Apparatus for inserting markers in pavements



March 6, 1934. J. FARASEY 1,950,169

APPARATUS FOR INERTING MARKERS IN PAVEMENTS Filed Jan. 2:5, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 @151, 02226, MJWM/ March 6, 1934. J. FARASEY APPARATUSFOR INSERTING MARKERS IN PAVEMENTS Filed Jan. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATNT ()FFICE APPARATUS FORINSERTING MARKERS 1N PAVEMENTS Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for placing inserts or markers inasphalt, bituminous or similar pavements. In the past, it has beencustomary to paint directional and instructional 8 signs on the surfaceof the pavement. As weather conditions and passing vehicles wear thepaint off very rapidly, this custom is being replaced by the use ofmarkers. In general, two types of markers have been used, namely, a flatmarker which lies on top of the pavement and is secured thereto by aspike or other retaining means, and a marker which is inserted into thepavement so as to be flush with the surface thereof. This latter typegenerally has been used only when they are set in place during theconstruction and resurfacing of the pavement. The former type are raisedfrom the surface of the road, and therefore are subjected to great wearand soon require replacement.

The generalobject of this invention is to provide an apparatus foreconomically inserting markers in previously constructed asphalt,bituminous or similar pavements.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will efiectivelysoften the surface of the pavement, so that a small portion thereof maybe removed to receive a marker, and in a manner such that only theportion of the pavement which is to be removed is softened.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will soften thesurface of an asphalt or similar pavement, and simultaneously sever thatportion from the remaining surface area so that the portion may bereadily stripped from the base material and a marker or other removableinsert substituted for the removed portion and cemented in place.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, which refers to a preferred embodiment illustrated in thedrawings. The essential characteristics will be summarized in theclaims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective, partially broken away, and illustrates myapparatus; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of the pavement,illustrating the manner of removal of the softened and severed portionof the surface material; Fig. 3 is a perspective and illustrates themarker, positioned in the pavement; Fig. 4 is a section through themarker and the pavement and is illustrated by the lines 4-4 on Fig. 3;Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the pavement and illustrate modifiedforms of markers; Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partially broken away, ofmy apparatus; Fig. 8 is a centrally located vertical section, throughthe apparatus, and in a plane parallel to Fig. 1; Figs. 9 and 10 arehorizontal sections, and are indicated by the lines 99 and 1010 on Fig.'7, respectively; Fig. 11 is a section and is indicated by the lines11-41 on Fig. '7.

Asphaltic pavements and the like generally comprise a concrete base,upon which is laid a course asphalt or a base composed of other suitablebituminous materials, on top of which is laid the usual surface orasphalt wearing coat. 'This surface coat is generally about one inch indepth, and of a considerably finer material than theasphalt basematerial. It has been found that when the surface coat is heated to theproper temperature, it becomes pliable and readily separates from thebase. Heretofore heat has been applied to the surface of the pavement,and a section of the heated pavement has been cut with suitable cutters.The section of pavement enclosed within the marginal edges of the cutwas then removed by spades or similar tools. It has been found, however,that when the pavement is so heated there is a tendency for the surfacematerial to deteriorate adjacent the cut portions, and separate from thebase. Hence, the general 30 practice is to simply eliminate the heatingand cut or pry the surface coat loose from the base, as this does notmaterially loosen the surface coating adjacent the cut out or removedportions. This method, however, is costly and the portion 35 of thepavement removed cannot readily be confined to predetermined limits.

I propose to supply an apparatus which will heat a predetermined portionof the surface coat which is desired to be removed, and which willsimultaneously sever such portion from the balance of the surface of theroad or pavement. Thereafter the portion may be removed from the basewith a spade-like instrument. A marker or insert, the same size andshape as the removed portion of the pavement, may then be inserted andthereafter cemented in place.

To heat and sever the surface of the pavement,

I prefer'to use an apparatus which may be readily transported from placeto place, and which 109 may be manually moved along the surface of thepavement, so that a plurality of markers may readily be inserted in thepavement.

As shown in Fig. l, the apparatus comprises an upright tube or framemember 10. Mounted in the upper portions of this tube is a furnaceelement 15, such as an oil burner 15. Fuel oil is supplied to the burnerunder pressure from a suitable source, (not shown) but generallycomprising an oil container and the usual hand pump 119 mechanismassociated therewith. Rigidly secured to the burner 15 are a pair ofhorizontally extending handle members 16, which project through openings17 in the upper portion of the tube 10, and serve as handles to permitthe device to be readily moved from place to place by the operator. Thetube 10 serves as a combustion chamber and its lower end is open and indirect communication with a flared .hood 30, which terminates in arectangular box-like member 31, having vertical side walls 32. -Theinternal area of the box portion 31 is the same size and shape as themarkers which are to be inserted in the pavement. The lower surface ofthe hood 30 is open, as indicated at 33 in the drawings. The hood soserves as an expansion chamber and is provided with suitable openings34, which permit the fumes of combustion to escape therefrom. The deviceis set in place in position on the pavement, where the marker is to beplaced, the burner ignited and the heat thereof softens the exposedsurface of the pavement, which is within the confines of the side .32 ofthe hood, which prevent the heat from affecting the balance of thepavement.

The contour of the hood 30 may be varied, as desired, to accommodatevarious shaped markers. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, I show variedforms or shapes of markers. In each instance, the shape of the hood 30will be varied, so that it will substantially conform to the contour ofthe marker to be used.

lfhe apparatus is so constructed that the portion of the pavement Withinthe confines of the sides 32 of the hood-shaped member 30 will besevered from the balance of the surface material in the pavement, as theheat is applied. To this end, the lower edges of the side members 32 ofthe hood are sharpened, as indicated at 36. This knife-like edge isadapted to rest on the pavement and as the latter is heated, the weightof the device will force the edges 36 into the pavement.

As there is an asphaltic or bituminous composition base immediatelybe-neath the surface material of the road, it is desirable to providesome means of limiting the downward movement of the device, so that itwill not cut the base material. To this end, angle bars 35 are securedor welded to the side 32 of the hood, in such a manner that the bottomflange of the bars 35 is spaced above the knife edges 36 a distanceequivalent to the thickness of the surface material. When the devicepenetrates the pavement the desired amount, the surface 36 of the anglebars will coact with the top surface of the pavement adjacent the hood,and thereby restrict or stop its downward movement, at which time theoperator may remove the device and thereafter, with a spade-likeinstrument, strip the top or surface material from the pavement, so thatthe markers may be set in place.

The surface of the base material which is exposed after the top has beenremoved, is generally rough. Therefore, I prefer to use a suitablefilling material to support the marker in a position where the top ofthe marker will be flush with the surface of the pavement. I find itpreferable to use asphalt for this purpose, similar to that which isused in the construction of the wearing surface of the pavement. Thismaterial must be heated to the proper temperature, toenable it to bespread over the roughened surface of the base. An'asphaltlc cement mustalso be used, so that the surface material, as well as the *marker, willadhere "to the existing pavement. This asphaltic cement likewise must bekept heated, so that it will remain in a molten condition. To this end,I find it convenient to provide means whereby the waste heat from thedevice may be utilized to heat the asphaltic cement and the asphalt tothe proper temperature and maintain them at such temperatures. Asillustrated in the drawings, a cylindrical, box-like member 40 issecured to the tube or support 10, intermediate the burner 15 and thehood 30, in the region of combustion, and a short distance above thehood 30. This box-like member is provided with a suitable dividing wall41, which divides the box into two compartments, one of which is adaptedto be filled with asphalt and the other with asphalt cement. The heatfrom the burner is conducted through the tube and serves to heat andmaintain heated the contents of the box 40. Likewise, the hot gases,escaping through the openings 34 in the top of the hood, contact withthe outer surfaces of the box and aid in maintaining it at the propertemperature.

The markers M generally comprise a base composed of comparatively hardrubber, B, and have a top coating, preferably of colored rubber, C,which is formed integral with the base. The bottom surface of the baseis provided with a plurality of recesses, D. These recesses or cavitiestend to increase the vacuum formed when force is exerted to remove theblock, and also fill up to some slight amount with the asphalt which isplaced upon the base of the pavement to level it, and thereby serve toincrease the bond between the marker and the base material of thepavement. These recesses also serve to prevent the joint between themarker and the pavement from being disrupted by the expansion andcontraction of the marker or pavement, due to climatic conditions, andthe passing of heavily loaded vehicles over the surface of the marker.

From the foregoing description'it will be seen that I have provided anefficient appaartus for the insertion of instructional and directionalmarkers in previously constructed pavements of the asphaltic types.

It will also be seen that I have provided an efficient and simpleapparatus which may be manually moved from place to place upon thesurface of the pavement, and which will heat a predetermined area of thepavement and simultaneously sever that portion, for a predetermineddepth, from the remaining surface material.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with aportable heating unit including a fuel burner, of a perforated casing incommunication with the products of combustion of the heating unit, saidcasing having an open face adapted to coact with the surface of thepavement and provided with side and end members adapted to penetrate thepavement, and means carried by the side members and outside-ofsaidcasing to limit the depth of such penetration without limiting thearea subjected to the heat.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of acasing having continuous side walls adapted to rest on the surface ofthe pavement and enclose a predetermined .area

thereof, aheating-element in-communication with 1' the casing, andadapted to heat the entire :sur face area of the pavement within themarginal edges cf the casing, wherein the entire structure is supportedby thepasing in such a manner that its weiglit will 'cause the walls ofthe casing to penetrate the pavement and sever the marginal edges of theheated area from the remaining surface, and means carried by the casingand outside of the walls thereof to limit the depth of such penetration.

3. In a device for severing the marginal edges of sections of asphalticor similar pavements, a vertically extending hollow frame member open atthe opposite ends, a fuel burner mounted within and spaced apart fromthe walls of said frame member adjacent the upper end thereof, wherebysaid frame provides a combustion chamber for the burner, a casing havingan open bottom and continuous side walls to coact with and entirelyconfine a predetermined area of the pavement, said casing providing asupport for said hollow frame member and an expansion chamber for theburner, the lower innermost edges of the walls of said expansion chamberbeing bevelled to penetrate the pavement and sever a predetermined areafrom the whole, means secured to the outer walls of said last-namedchamber to limit the distance of the penetration, and a handle securedto the upper end of said frame member whereby the pressure on thestructure may be increased as desired.

4. In a device for severing the marginal edges of and heatingpredetermined sized blocks of asphaltic pavements, a casing having anopen bottom to coact with the surface of the pavement to be heated, saidcasing having vertically extending continuous side and end walls, avertically extending hollow frame supported by said casing and incommunication therewith, the sectional area of the frame beingmaterially less than the sectional area of the casing, said frame beingopen at its upper end, said casing being provided with a plurality ofopenings whereby air currents may circulate through the structure, aburner supported by said frame within its upper end and spaced apartfrom the walls thereof whereby the frame provides a combustion chamberfor the burner and the casing provides an expansion chamber therefor, acontainer surrounding the frame intermediate its upper end and arrangedto receive asphalt or similar material whereby the burner maysimultaneously heat the surface of the pavement and material in suchcontainer, the weight of the entire structure and the material in thecontainer acting to cause the structure to penetrate the pavement as theheat is applied.

5. In a device of the character described, a heating element, a tubularframe adapted to support the heating element, and serve as a combustionchamber therefor, an expansion chamber in communication with thecombustion chamber, said expansion chamber having continuous knife-likeedges adapted to support the structure and penetrate the pavement andsever from the remaining pavement the entire area over which theexpansion chamber is superimposed, and means exteriorly of saidknife-like edges and adapted to limit the depth of penetration.

JAMES FARASEY.

